Saudi employer to compensate family of deceased worker: foreign ministry

Egypt’s General Consulate in Jeddah sent an attache to the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia to follow up on a investigation conducted regarding the accidental death of a worker, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said Monday.

Egyptian builder Ali Desouki, 39 died in Saudi Arabia on 20 March, due to building materials collapsing on top of him. His employer has refused to provide the family with their financial rights from the company in the case of death of a family member.

According to a statement by the ministry issued Monday, the Saudi police concluded that the deceased worker is entitled to local labour laws relating to social security benefits. The law is applied under the kafala or sponsorship system used to monitor migrant labourers in Gulf countries.

The ministry further assured Desouki’s family that his body should soon return to Egypt, and that it will ensure they obtain their full rights.